Former Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Joan Orie Melvin was sentenced to three years of house arrest and two years of subsequent probation Tuesday for using judicial staff to work on her 2003 and 2009 campaigns for the high court, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported.

Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas Judge Lester Nauhaus also ordered Orie Melvin to send handwritten apologies on photographs of herself to every judge in the state and pay a $55,000 in fines. There is also a prohibition on using the title “justice” during her term.

Orie Melvin resigned in March, one month after being convicted. At that time, she said she planned to appeal the Feb. 21 verdict that found her guilty of six out of seven counts of corruption. She had been suspended after being charged last May with three counts of felony theft of services, one count of conspiracy to commit theft of services, also a felony, and one count each of misdemeanor misapplication of government property, official oppression and conspiracy to tamper with evidence.

Gov. Tom Corbett must nominate her interim replacement, who would be subject to state Senate approval and would only serve until voters had a chance to elect someone. The state high court currently has three Democrats and Republicans apiece. Orie Melvin is a Republican.

Jeff Blumenthal covers banking, insurance and law.

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